Back to: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES SS2
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In today’s Christain Religious Studies class, We will be learning about King Josiah Religious Reforms. We hope you enjoy the class!
KING JOSIAH RELIGIOUS REFORMS
Josiah was one of the youngest kings in Israel; he was only 8 years old when he began to reign and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. It was recorded that he did right in the sight of God because he worked in the way of his father David. The Bible records before him there was no king like him who returned to the Lord with all his heart and soul according to the law of Moses nor did any arise after him.
Josiah showed much interest in the things of God. He detested the evil practices that were done before his ascension to the throne. He broke the houses of male prostitutes. He deposed the idolatrous priests whom the king of Judea had ordained to burn incense in the high places of the city of Judah and Jerusalem. He also brought out Asherah from the house of the lord and burnt it. He abolished witchcraft, sorcery, soothsaying, divination and their idols.
Josiah carried out his reforms to the northern kingdom, he removed the shrines of the high places that were in the city of Samaria which the King of Israel had made.
He ordered the priest to bring out all the vessels made for Baal and Asherah and burnt them.
He started the renovation and repair of the temple and in the process, the book of the law was found in the temple by Hilkiah, the high priest. The book of the law was read to him and when he heard the content he rent his clothes as a sign of repentance because they knew that they had transgressed. This encouraged him to carry out more reforms. The prophetess Huldah was consulted to help in inquiring of the Lord.
Huldah, the prophetess brought the word of the Lord to Josiah saying that says the lord,
” Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.” 2 Kings 22:16-17.
However, the narrative was different for Josiah the word of the Lord for Josiah says,
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou hearest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold, therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.” 2 Kings 22:19-20.
Evaluation
- Highlight two significant lessons that can be learnt from Joseph’s refusal to follow the path of his ancestors.
- what were the important decisions that were taken by Josiah that led to the religious reform of his time?
We have come to the end of this class. We do hope you enjoyed the class?
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In our next class, we will be learning about Similarity Between Today’s Religious Situation. We are very much eager to meet you there.
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